American Cruise Lines had a picture perfect launch for the Queen of the Mississippi, its new sternwheeler, at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, MD on July 17, 2011.

The riverboat was dispatched nine weeks ahead of schedule.

Tugboats nudged the new riverboat, built specifically for the Mississippi River, into Chesapeake Shipbuilding’s Outfitting Basin Number 2, where the upper decks and outfitting will be completed.

The Queen of the Mississippi will combine the traditional Victorian appearance of classic Mississippi riverboats with modern-day luxuries and amenities including large staterooms and spacious private balconies.

// (c) 2011 American Cruise Lines

A few weeks prior to the launching, the riverboat’s two hull sections, weighing at almost 500 tons apiece, were joined.

American Cruise Lines plans to operate the sternwheeler over the entire Mississippi River System, with the option of cruising at significantly higher speeds to increase the number of possible river itineraries and with longer visits to the river towns.

A number of unique seven-, 10-, and 14-day cruises are planned that will take passengers as far as St. Paul, MN on the Mississippi River and Pittsburgh, PA on the Ohio River.